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Stirling keep Rangers at bay

Date published: Monday 24th August 2015 1:38

The postponement of Queen’s Park’s game at Annan meant Ally McCoist’s men could not clinch the title with a win but they could have moved within two points of certain title glory, only to be denied by the gritty visitors.
It was the third time this season Stirling had taken points off Rangers and the visitors deserved a share of the spoils, having had chances to score a winner themselves.
On an extremely cold day in Glasgow, Rangers began brightly and Lee Wallace and Kane Hemmings linked up nicely, before the former was foiled by Sam Filler when clean through on goal.
Hemmings proved to be the chief threat for Rangers and he headed over the crossbar after a centre from Barrie McKay, and then dragged a good chance wide of the target.
But it was Stirling who finished the half the strongest and they went close twice just before half-time, Jordan White having a header from a Scott Davidson corner nodded off the line by Fraser Aird before Davidson fired just over a couple of minutes later.
Filler pulled off another good save soon after the second-half had begun, diving to his left to keep out a low shot from Aird.
At the other end, Davidson had another half-chance when a Phil Johnston cross reached him at the back post but his acrobatic volley took a deflection and seemed to be going wide before goalkeeper Neil Alexander made sure.
McCoist brought on Kal Naismith and switched to a 4-4-2 formation, which quickly led to a chance, Hemmings side-footing wide after a Robbie Crawford cut-back.
Hemmings then glanced a header wide but, in general, Stirling held out fairly comfortably for the last 20 minutes, while continuing to look dangerous when they broke forward.
Rangers are now four points from securing the title and they could do so next weekend, but will need Queen’s Park to slip up at home to Elgin after they have played Montrose.